Sarava

Oh and I'll predict here that Carlos Rodon signs with the Cardinals.

Jerry Reinsdorf has always been afraid of guaranteeing big money to pitchers because they break down so easily. I really don't know why some people are surprised here. This was a no brainer that they would not offer him a QO. And while I've often gotten on JR for being cheap, and I may do so again this winter - I wouldn't assume that not offering Rodon a QO means they wont spend elsewhere. He just doesn't want to hand 18 mil to a pitcher who never puts a full season together and ended this season with arm problems of some sort.

Rodon was awesome. But the Sox need someone that will be awesome in October more so than May and June. Does anyone feel confident that will happen with him? And for Kopech, no...you have to look at him as a #4 and consider anything beyond that a bonus. I've been saying since the Sox were eliminated that they need to work on acquiring a TOR starter or starter with TOR potential soon, and if you need to dangle Andrew Vaughn towards that, then you consider that IMO.

It is. But the Sox are extremely likely to win the division next year. Giving $18 mil to someone that you aren't confidant will help in the playoffs is useless.

Considering how bad the Sox have been at drafting outside of the early first round, give up the pick.

I agree. The Sox have had a month to find out what they can get for Kimbrel. I just don't them bothering to exercise the option for a tiny-ish return.

It is a risk. And I agree that the Sox probably don't have the rotation to win a World Series as it stands right now. When I see the comment that they might want to bring him back in some capacity. I kind of read that as they will let his free agency play out and if he fails to get serious interest anywhere, then maybe something could happen. To me, knowing the payroll budget concerns that Rick Hahn likely faces. The best course IMO would be to shop Andrew Vaughn for a young stud pitcher and hope you catch lightning in a bottle. As good as Vaughn might be, he is very redundant on this team. We already have too many poor defending OF/1B/DH right handed hitter types. And I wouldn't sell low on Eloy, we probably saw a shell of what he is and will be last year coming back his injury.

I still could end up being wrong. But my thinking was that Reinsdorf isn't going to want to sign off on giving 19 million dollars to someone who is very unlikely to stay healthy through a full season.

I think I was the only one in the other Rodon thread predicting the Sox wouldn't extend him a QO, and seeing these quotes makes me think I was right. We'll find out later today, eh?

Castelleanos would be one of the Sox better hitters. That said, barring some shakeup trades like unexpectedly moving Vaughn and Shields, they can't bring in another right handed OF/DH type that sucks at defense.

Eh 12-1 is probably right, especially since the Sox should coast to a division win. Besides the obvious holes in RF and 2B, the Sox probably need a #1 SP to be a serious World Series favorite type of team.

I could see this. He is mostly still dominant, but is kind of, sort of moving towards breaking down a bit with his age and will be a bit cheaper. Probably the kind of thing that might fit with Jerry's budget. And it might fit the window of the next 2-3 years of going for it.

The Dodgers were kind of limping in to the NLCS. Honestly, both teams in the World series had somewhat easy runs Be careful about assuming the Sox will be better with better health next year. This team built their lead and won their division in the early part of the season when half the lineup was out. When they got mostly healthy, they played mediocre ball for the most part. And yes, the starting staff largely pitched over the heads to prop this team up while injured. I know that's a big part of it. IMO, if the Sox continue trying to build a team full of a bunch of OPS mashers and ignore baseball fundamentals, hitting cutoff mean, stealing bases, occasional bunts to get a runner over, defense, etc. the same results will keep happening over and over. The kind of player they need is Nick Madrigal, but that ship has sailed unfortunately. What really sucks for the Sox, if they had been good enough to get past Houston, facing the Red Sox and then the Braves is not a daunting task. This could of been the year. And that also shows how you need to be lucky to win the World Series, in addition to being good.. Get a few things falling in your direction. Regardless of who wins the World Series, and I'll be surprised if it isn't Houston, but both have had favorable matchups for the most part. Houston will of faced a talented but flawed team in the White Sox. They then face a good but unspectacular Red Sox team. And then a good Braves team who's best player is out. Or if the Braves win, they faced a very good Milwaukee team who got cold at the end of the season, then a Dodger team that limped in to the NLCS, and now Houston. The good news for the Sox is, I think the kind of moves that can fix this team are generally cheaper moves. I just wonder if they see the flaws? That they felt Madrigal was so expendable worries me for what their intentions are for building the team.

I agree with this. If Andrew's trade value is still really high, and I suspect it is, I'd look in to moving him for a young controllable arm with TOR potential. You can go back to last year's rumor when Milwaukee supposedly wanted him to headline a deal for Burnes. Something like that, though obviously Burnes wouldn't be available now.

I cant see the Sox offering him a QO with his health issues. That number was 18.9 mil last year.

Jack posts on another board I post on. He actually expressed regret for getting himself wacked here. But now that the Sox are falling on their face, his negativity is running loose as one would expect. I feel bad for the dude. He won't allow himself to enjoy sports it seems.

Nah, don't want Machado at this point. I'd rather have Semien as others have said. Or Baez...or Castellanos for RF....

Considering they played better as a team before all these guys were back, yes, it all should be considered.

Disagree. He isn't even good enough to be a #5 at this point. #5's are supposed to get bombed night in and night out.

I'll be sad to see him go, but you can't give him a lot of money with his injury history. Offer him the QO and if he takes it great....he probably doesn't and thyen you wish him well.

That's what I was thinking. Getting his timing back at the plate is probably the time consuming part.

I think we're likely to just see a middle reliever added by 3pm today. As for what I'd want...definitely Kris Bryant. Why would you want to go in to the playoffs with anything less than a stacked lineup? Especially after seeing how some of the primary competition teams like BOS, NYY, LAD, SD and HOU are improving themselves greatly right now? The question is - is Rick Hahn afraid to pull the trigger on a big deal?

This is good timing Jack. You over-worrying about something usually leads to good things for the Sox.

Lynn is #1 for sure, then Giolito and Rodon. As said by others, this can change quickly.

Doesn't Blackmon have 2 more years on his deal after 2021 for big bucks You can't take that on with his declining play. And I used to love his game.